The sidestroke is one of the least-taxing and most-relaxing swimming strokes. It has a long glide period, making it less work than strokes that involve constant stroking and kicking. The sidestroke also allows you to keep your face out of the water at all times, which makes it a good method for relaxing swims in open water. A slightly modified sidestroke often is the stroke of choice for rescue swimmers who are towing a victim back to shore.
Step 1
Asume the rest, or glide, position of the side stroke. You will be on your side, with one cheek resting in the water and your neck slightly tilted to lift your mouth above the surface of the water. Your bottom arm will be fully extended out and forward into the water and will be covering your bottom ear, with your palm facing down. Your top arm will be fully extended in the opposite direction, toward your feet, with your palm resting on your thigh. Your legs will be fully extended and together, with your toes slightly pointed.
Step 2
Initiate the first phase of the stroke by scooping your bottom hand and digging into the water, drawing that and toward your waist. As you near your waist, your top hand will come down into the water near your waist, as well. Separate your legs to initiate a scissor kick, keeping them relatively long and your toes slightly pointed.
Step 3
Pass the movement on to your top hand by scooping the water and pushing it toward your feet with your top hand while the bottom hand recovers and moves back to its extended position under your ear.
Step 4
Return to the glide, or rest, phase of the stroke as your top hand finishes its scooping motion toward your feet and ends near your thigh. The scissor kick also should be complete and your legs should have returned to their straight and together position.
References
- "Swimming For Total Fitness"; Jane Katz, Ed.D., et al.; 1993
- Enjoy Swimming: Learn to Swim the Sidestroke
